On Juvenile Mediterranean Monk Seal Stranding in Antalya 2017

On Saturday (November 25, 2017), we’ve been informed by Coast Guard about a Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) stranding in Antalya/Kaleiçi. The approx.1 m-long, 25 kg weighed juvenile female seal was taken to the Akdeniz University, Faculty of Fisheries and preserved for the necropsy. On Monday, a necropsy was held by TUDAV’s veterinarian Erdem Danyer, PhD and Marine Biologist Elif Özgür Özbek, PhD with the participation of the Research Assistant Mustafa Tunca Olguner and students. The carcass will be preserved at the faculty as a museum material. Preliminary findings revealed that the juvenile seal was still in its suckling period and net-like marks on the body, pneumonia in lungs and parasitic infestation in intestines were observed. Further studies are being conducted.